SBC FreedomLink will unwire California state parks: Ack, we'll never escape the Wi-Fi menace. Just try to find some nature without electromagnetism. But, more seriously, people who spend time traveling or need a link to home or office now have a less invasive method than cell phone calls. Maybe we don't need to send email to say, "It's beautiful here," but human nature is about communication.
The first park unwired will be outside of San Diego, San Elijo Beach Park (pictured), and 84 other parks follow during the next six months. Interestingly, the cost for a day's use is $7.95 for non-subscribers versus $4.95 in other venues. The parks will offer free access to state-operated Web sites, which might be a real treat when you're trying to find a campground and can use their online reservation system or check weather and roads.
California has 700 SBC hotspots, according to the press release. SBC users have access to well over 6,000 locations through Wayport managed services (UPS Store and others) and Wayport roaming (McDonald's, hotels).
For a dissenting view on park-Fi, dig this camper's comment: "We'll stay out for three months, and I manage just fine without it," said camper Gypsy Donachy.
[Photo courtesy of Phil Baker out of his window.]
It'll probably be nice just to build a hotspot where you don't have to worry (as much) about gobs of interference.
No microwaves or 2.4Ghz phones to knock you off all the time.